Enclosure

Babies and juveniles are best kept in 20-gallon long terrariums that measure 30 x 12 x 12 inches. While they eventually outgrow this size habitat, some juveniles can have difficulty finding food, thermoregulating, and feeling secure in a larger enclosure.  A small starter tank such as this one is great for a baby beardie.

Adults need at least a 40-gallon breeder. Those measure 36 x 18 x 18 inches, but some keepers prefer an even larger enclosure, typically 48 x 24 x 24 inches. Consider a terrarium with front-opening doors that allows easy access to your animal without disturbing the lighting and heating equipment above. This 50 gallon terrarium is perfect for an adult bearded dragon.

Substrate

Omnivorous Diet

Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

Water

Behavior

Other than making you laugh, these are some of the things you can expect from your pet bearded dragon.

Basking - this is what they'll be doing most of the day. When they're not expecting to be fed or doling out disapproving looks.

Brumation - similar to hibernation, bearded dragons in the wild brumate during winter when their environment gets cold, daylight hours are reduced, and resources become scarce. Some pet bearded dragons brumate even if temperatures and visible light hours haven't changed. They will spend most of their time in their hide, sleeping more and eating less. Be sure to monitor their health during this period, as those behaviors can also be a sign of illness.

Head Bobbing - a show of dominance. Most common in adult males, this is intended to intimidate other males and attract females. If you see this occurring, we recommend playing fast-paced music and bobbing along.

Arm Waving - as much as you'd like to think they're just saying hi (although feel free to wave back and greet them), this is actually their way of communicating submission. This behavior is most common in juveniles and some female adults but is rarely seen in adult males.

Defensive Behavior - baby beardies are tiny and easy prey in the wild, so they are more skittish than their adult counterparts. By the time you get one from us, they will have outgrown their instinct of attempting to be scary by lifting their little heads up and opening their mouths, sometimes jumping and trying to bite. Adult bearded dragons (usually males) will get defensive by opening their mouth wide, puffing their beard (gular), flattening their body to make it wider, and getting "fired up."

Getting Fired Up - dragons will turn darker, almost black, on various parts of their body. This will usually happen on their beard and tail, but sometimes a dark, intricate pattern will show on their typically white bellies. This can happen if they feel threatened or upset.

Avoid touching your dragon if they defensive or fired up.
Bearded dragons rarely bite, but are more inclined to do so if they feel threatened.
They can also inflict pain with their spiked beard and lateral fringe.
To protect your health, be sure to wash your hands after handling them or items in their enclosure.

Health Concerns

A major health condition that affects bearded dragons and other reptiles is Metabolic Bone Disease, or MBD. Caused by insufficient UVB lighting and/or improper amounts of calcium and vitamin D, MBD can result in behavioral changes, deformities, even death. The good news is, it is completely avoidable! Just light cycle them daily with UVB and dust their food with calcium!

Other health concerns include respiratory disease, often caused by high humidity or cold and gastrointestinal illness, which could be caused by a variety of factors.